Israel names 36-man squad for London Olympics

Zvi Varshaviak has described the 36-man squad for the London Olympics as the best quality squad Israel has sent to a Games.

The squad falls short of the 43 Israelis who represented the country in Israel in Beijing four years ago.

IOC President Varshaviak said: "We've had larger squads but this is the best quality squad we have ever had and we expect to win more than two medals."

The squad could increase to 37, with a wild card entry being given to a young competitor – either high jumper Dima Kroyter or shot putter Anastasia Muchkayev – depending on which one performs better in the European Athletics Championship in Helsinki this week.

OCI Director General Ephraim Zinger said: "We will be competing in eight different sports compared with 10 last time.

"Fifty per cent of the squad will be competing in their first Olympics and 100 competitors tried to meet the Olympic criteria."

There remain doubts over tennis stars Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich who require need confirmation from the World Tennis Federation that they have met the Olympic criteria, while marathon runner Zohar Zimro faces a disciplinary committee after failing a drugs test.